Biochemistry: Fingerprinting Bacteria

Before they can effectively combat the
bacteria that may infect a patient, threaten a swiftly spreading
epidemic, or contaminate a municipal water sup ply, doctors and
scientists need quick and positive identification of the invading
organisms. But traditional laboratory tests that single out and
classify bacterial troublemakers are complex, time-consuming and
sometimes inconclusive. Often, before the results are in, the disease
has spread or the patient has died. In the future, though, bacteria may
lose their cloak of anonymity more quickly. Scientists have discovered
that each species and strain has a distinctive "fingerprint"
that can be used for virtu...